Now this is exactly our case: for we are dwelling in a
hollow of the earth, and fancy that we are on the surface; and the air
we call the heaven, and in this we imagine that the stars move. But
this is also owing to our feebleness and sluggishness, which prevent
our reaching the surface of the air: for if any man could arrive at
the exterior limit, or take the wings of a bird and fly upward, like a
fish who puts his head out and sees this world, he would see a world
beyond; and, if the nature of man could sustain the sight, he would
acknowledge that this was the place of the true heaven and the true
light and the true stars.